West Devon

West Devon's population increased by about 4,700 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the key changes among the local population.

The population passed 50,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of West Devon increased by 9.6%, from just over 48,800 to 53,600.

The addition of just over 4,700 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, West Devon was home to, on average, 0.33 people per football pitch-sized piece of land. This made it the South West's least densely-populated district.

Population density was lower than the average across the South West

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older West Devon

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of West Devon increased by three years, from 44 to 47 years.

This area had the third-highest average age in the South West and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just over 2,600 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by about 1,000.

About 16.0% of people in West Devon are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and West Devon by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

Private renting increased in West Devon, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in the South West, except Isles of Scilly.

Across the South West, the proportion of privately rented homes increased from 11.1% to 17.0% between the last two censuses, while the proportion in Teignbridge (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with West Devon) increased from 11.8% to 15.5%.

Private renting was lower than across the South West

Percentage of households that rented privately across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Changing relationships in West Devon

The proportion of married people fell in West Devon, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in the South West, except South Gloucestershire and Isles of Scilly.

Every local authority area across the South West saw a fall in the proportion of married people, as the regional average fell from 53.2% to 49.1%.

During this period, West Devon overtook six local authority areas, including Isles of Scilly and Dorset, to become the South West local authority area with the second-highest percentage of married people.

The proportion of married people was higher than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Changing household dynamics

The percentage of households in West Devon, which comprised a single parent, increased from 7.2% to 7.3% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under 4 in 10 (37.7%) households had a married couple, compared with 40.8% in 2001. The percentage of households in West Devon, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 7.3% to 9.1%.

The proportion of single-parent households increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 8.1% in 2001 to 9.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.5% to 10.7%.

The percentage of households with a single-parent was lower than across the South West

Percentage of households that had a single parent across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in West Devon

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in West Devon was among those who said they had no religion, rising 12.5 points.

In 2011, 29.1% of respondents in West Devon gave this answer to the question on religion, compared with 16.6% of those who answered in 2001.

Across the South West, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion and described themselves as having no religion increased from 18.5% to 32.2%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in West Devon, 69.6% said they were Christian, compared with 82.5% in 2001. About 0.6% said they identified with a religion other than Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism or Sikhism, compared with 0.4% a decade prior.

The percentage of people who disclosed a religious affiliation and said they were Buddhist increased from 0.2% to 0.3%.

In West Devon, 8.5% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 7.3% in 2001. Across the South West, 7.9% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 7.7% in 2001. Across England, 7.2% of people did not answer, compared with 7.7% in 2001.

The population that said they had no religion in West Devon increased by 13 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, South West and West Devon by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in West Devon

The percentage of West Devon residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 7.6% to 8.0% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under 1 in 25 (3.9%) reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 3.1% in 2001. The percentage of West Devon residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 89.3% to 88.1%.

The proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 7.0% in 2001 to 7.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of West Devon residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 8.3% to 5.1% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (80.6%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 68.4% in 2001. The percentage of West Devon residents that described their health as fair decreased from 23.3% to 14.3%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 8.5% in 2001 to 5.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in West Devon decreased by 3.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in West Devon, the South West and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in West Devon with children decreased from 26.6% to 24.8% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just under 7 in 10 (66.5%) households had no children, compared with 64.8% in 2001. The percentage of households in West Devon with only adult children living with their parents increased from 8.6% to 8.7%.

The proportion of households with children fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 27.8% in 2001 to 26.9% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 29.5% to 29.2%.

The proportion of households with children was lower than across the South West

Percentage of households with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

More people worked short hours

The percentage of employed people in West Devon working less than 16 hours increased from 2.4% to 3.6% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just under one in seven (13.4%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 16.9% in 2001.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 2.1% in 2001 to 3.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.9% to 3.1%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week in West Devon increased by 1.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in West Devon, the South West and England that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of West Devon residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 2.1% to 2.6% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.0%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 2.0% in 2001 to 2.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in West Devon remained close to 2.6%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and West Devon by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing work life

The percentage of West Devon residents that were studying increased from 1.8% to 2.2% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage who said they were employed remained close to 46.0%, while the percentage of West Devon residents that were unemployed increased from 2.4% to 3.1%.

The proportion of students increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 2.6% in 2001 to 3.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.6% to 3.5%.

The percentage of students was lower than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were in education across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

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